Shackle



H. B. McCANDLESS.

SHACKLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1920.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.`

/A/ VIN/OFF ITOF/vff sraras HARRY B. ivrccANnLnss,

for `sr. LOUIS, Missoula.

SEACKLE.

K Speccatien of Letters atent.

Patented Feb. .28, 1922.

Appiieanoa ined august is, i920.Y sei-iai no. 404,699.

To all whom t may concer-n:

Be it known that l, HARRY B. McCann- Lnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful linprovement in Shackles, oi which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the 'accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in shackles adapted for use in automobiles and other machinery.

The `principal objects of my present invention are to provide a shackle so constructed as to be conveniently lubricated and its maintenance in elicient lubricated condition facilitated, whereby squeaks and rattles are largely obviated and wear upon the parts reduced; to provide a shackle which will efficiently and durably connect and fasten partstogether in a manner permitting tree and easy hinged or pivotal movement therebetween; to provide a shackle which can b el readilyf'fand4 easily assembled or, when required, taken apart for replacements 0r repairs ;,to provide ashackle which may be inexpensively and cheaply manufactured. and produced, and to generally improve upon, and simplify the construction ot', devices or the kind described. 1k

lith the above and other` objects in view,

my invention resides in the novel `features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and afterwards pointedout in the claims.

ln the acc'omi'ianying` drawing, Y

F igurel is a side elevational view oi' a shackle embodying my invention, the shackle being illustrated as operatively or hingedly connecting an automobile chassis andV spring, both the `latter beingtragmentally shown;

Figure 2 is an elevational View, partly 4in section, of the shackle, kthe same beingsimilarly shown as hingedly connecting anautomobile chassis and spring; K n

Figure 3 is an end view of one of the shackle-bolts;

Figure ais a side elevational view or' one or the shackle-bolts and its nut; and

Figure 5 is a ragmental view of the shank of one of the shackle-bolts, showing its nutv in longitudinal section.

Referring now more in detail to the said drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, the shackle includes a pair ot similar bolts 'Ar-A and a pair of similar links B B- Each bolt A comprisesa preferablyy cylindrical shank or body-portion l integrally lormed at one end with a bearing head 2, circular or annular in shape in end eleva-` tion, as shown in Figure 3, tlievother or 4opposite end of the shank l being threaded, as at 3, seen in Figure 5, to receive a'bearing n ut d approximately identical in form and size with bolt-head 2. Bolt-head 2 preferably has a diameter considerably greater than the diameter of shank l, as` seen in il igures 2 and 5; and immediately adjacent the base of head 2, shank l is preferably enlarged to provide an annular shoulder 5r and a link-litting surface 6. For the purpose of providing a similar shoulder 5 and linkfitting surface G at the opposite or threaded end of the bolt, the nut 4 is provided with a.

reduced annular extension 7. For purposes shortly appearing, bolt-head 2 is longituy diiially ih irnied or cut-away tok provide prei.- erably diametrically opposite channels or ways8-'-8, preferably of gradually increasing depth from the base-of the head towards its outer end, as clearly seen in Figure `2. Similarly, nut fl is formed or provided with identically similar longitudinallyy disposed channels or ways 9-9, clearly seen in Figure 5( i Each link B--B comprisesa shank or body-portion preferably in the form ora suitably elongated substantially rectangular flat strip l0, suitably formed or provided upon one side and at the opposite ends of whichV are outwardly presented cup-bearings ll-ll of interior dimensions to conveniently fit 'iqormovement upon bolt-head 2 and nut d, the wall of each'cup ll, beingexternally threaded, as r`at l2, to receive a flanged closure-cap 13. At the base or each cup 1l, strip or shank lO is annularlyvcutaway to provide an aperture or opening la having a diameter slightly greater than, and

for freely or looselyV accommodating the p0rtions tif-7 of the bolt and nut, and providing a bearing for the wall of each aperture y being suitably recessed to receive and kaccommodate a suitable telt or other greaseretaining washer l5.VA As seen in Figure 2,

or connected by strengthening-webs 16.

For purposes of illustration, I herein show and describe my new shackle in connection with .an automobile, of which C is an endthe cups ll and strip lO are suitably braced portion of the chassis and .D one of the springs, which parts are to be pivotedly or hingedly linked or connected together,fra1ne C and spring D being each, as is common in automobile construction, formed or provided transversely with a suitable bolt-opening or way 17h17.

In use or operation, and in assembling the shackle, a bolt A is first projected at' its threaded end through the aperture le of the link B, then through the :trame C, and then through the opposite link B, with its head 2 disposed in cup l1 of the link B. Similarly, the other bolt A is projected at its threaded end through the other aperture l-i of the link B, then through the opening 1T of the spring D, and then through the other opening 11i of the link B', its head Q being likewise disposed in and providing a bearing for the other cup 11 of the link B. Nuts l are then fitted upon the threaded ends of the bolts A and similarly disposed within and providing bearings for the cups ll of the link B, with the link-bearing extensions i' thereof disposed within the apertures 14C ot the link B. The diameter of the Shanks of the bolts A relatively to the diameter of the openings 17 is such that the bolts A have a drive, tight tit in the openings 17. Consequently,'with the shackle assembled as de-` scribed, the frame C and spring D are tightly held between the shoulders 5 of the bolts A and their nuts 4e, with the `links B-B hingedly bearing attheir cups ll upon the heads and nuts of the bolts Af Thus wear upon the parts C and D is done away with and thrown entirely upon the heads and nuts of the bolts A.

The channels 8 and 9 lor' bolt heads 2 and nuts el. provide convenient ways for suitable grease or other lubricant, which gradually works around the heads and nuts ofthe bolts any excess lubricant being absorbed by the A'washers l5 disposed, as shown, between the shank fitting portions 6 and the links B.

By the construction described, I am enabled not only to conveniently lubricate they shackle and its associated parts, but to also facilitate the maintenance of such parts in lubricated condition and to greatly obviate squeaks and rattles and reduce wear upon the parts, Further, the shackle and its parts may be readily assembled or, when required, taken apart for replacements or repairs. The shackle itself is simple in form and construction and yet strong and rigid and serves t0 eiiiciently and durably connect the parts together, while freely permitting hinged or pivotal movement therebetween for comfortable riding.V y

The caps 18 are readily removable when lubrication of the parts is desired, and are, of course, fitted in closing position upon the cups after lubrication to prevent the entrance into the cups of dust, dirt, and the like; and I might add that, as I have here illustrated in Figure v2, an annular wear bushing 18 is preerablytted in each cup l1 to protect the bolt-heads and nuts.

I am aware thatA minor changes 1n the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of the `shackle may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention. Y

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

`l. A shackle including a pair of headed bolts and nuts therefor, said heads and nuts being annular in form and belng concentric with, but of increased diameter relatively `to, the Shanks of the bolts, the bolts being adapted for rigid engagement at their shanks with the parts to be shackled, in combination with a pair of independent separate links adapted for hingedly connecting the bolts and said parts together, the links being apertured to loosely lit the Shanks ot the bolts upon opposite sides of the shackled parts, and a pair of spaced outwardly presented annular cups on each Vof the links, said cups snugly embracing, andthe links having a bearing for pivotal movement at said cups upon, the heads and nuts of the bolts.

2. A vshackle including a pair ofheaded bolts and nuts therefor, said heads and nuts being annular in form and'being concentric with, but of increased diameterrelatively to,

the Shanks of the bolts, Vthe bolts being adapted lfor rigid engagement at their shanks with the parts to be'shackled, in

uponrthe bearing surfaces between thecups yand said heads and bolts. y f

3.\A shackle includinga pair of headed bolts and nuts therefor, said heads and nuts being annular in form and being concentric with, but of increased diameter relatively to,

the shanks of the bolts, the bolts being adapted for rigid engagement at their shanks wlth the parts to be shackled, in combination with V a pair of independent separate links adapted for hingedly connecting the bolts and said parts together, the links being apertured to looselytt the shanks ofthe bolts upon opposite sides of the shackled parts, a pair of spaced outwardly presented annular cups on each of the links, said cups snugly embracing, and the links having a bearing for pivotal movement at said cups upon, the heads and nuts of the bolts, each head and nut being provided longitudinally with peripheral ways whereby lubricant may be directed to and upon the bearing surfaces between the cups and said heads and bolts, and caps for removably closing the cups against the ingress of dust and the like thereinto.

4f. A shackle including a pair of headed bolts and nuts therefor, said heads and nuts being annular in form and being concentric with, but of increased diameter relatively to, the shanks of the bolts, the shank of each bolt being provided next its head and nut with annular link fitting surfaces, and being adapted for rigid engagement between said link fitting surfaces with the parts to be shackled, in combination with a pair of independent separate links adapted for hingedly connecting the bolts and said parts together, the links being apertured to loosely fit the link fitting surfaces of the shanks of the bolts, and outwardly presented annular cups on each of the links, said cups snugly embracing, and the links having a bearing for pivotal movement at said cups upon, the heads and nuts of the bolts.

5. A shackle including a pair of headed bolts and nuts therefor, said heads and nuts being annular in form and being concentric with, but of increased diameter relatively to, the Shanks of the bolts, the shank of each bolt being provided next its head and nut with annular link fitting surfaces, and being adapted for rigid engagement between said link-fitting surfaces with the parts to be shackled, in combination with a pair of independent separateV links adapted for hingedly connecting the bolts and said parts together, the links being apertured to loosely Vfit the link-fitting surfaces of the shanks of the bolts, and outwardly presented annular cups on each of the links, said cups snugly embracing, and the links having a bearing for pivotal movement at said cups upon, the heads and nuts of the bolts, each head and nut being provided longitudinally with peripheral ways whereby lubricant may be di rected Vto and upon the bearing surfaces between the cups and said heads and bolts.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification'.

HARRY B. MCoANDLEss. 

